Skills Assessment

A skills assessment is a test, task, simulation, or structured exercise used to evaluate job-related knowledge, judgment, or ability. It may occur before an interview, during one, or later in the hiring process.

Assessments include coding exercises, writing tasks, spreadsheet tests, role-play calls, case studies, language tests, and job-knowledge questionnaires; a good assessment reflects work that matters in the role and provides clear instructions, time expectations, and evaluation criteria. A skills assessment differs from a portfolio; a portfolio contains work selected by the candidate, while an assessment gives candidates a common task or measure. It can also appear inside a technical interview; before starting, confirm the deadline, permitted tools, collaboration rules, submission format, and whether the work is timed; before starting, confirm the deadline, permitted tools, collaboration rules, submission format, and time limit, and never include confidential work from another employer.

For example, an analyst candidate may receive a timed spreadsheet exercise with stated data, permitted tools, and evaluation criteria.